Need help with a new DCS Rig: i7-4790k or i7-5820K.

[pandastick]

Hi guys,

 

Firstly, I apologize if this is not the correct forum to place this question.

 

I'm looking for help as I'm choosing components to a basically DCS exclusive system. I've been saving up for this dream of mine for quite a while and definitely have high expectations for "visible performance".

 

The current setup would be an SSD, 32' 1440 ultrawide 60hz monitor (DELL), but I'm wanting to really get this ready for max performance on a consumer version of oculus rift or a fast 4k monitor.

 

After thorough research, I'm undecided between:

 

Options:

A: i7-4790k - 32gb DDR3 1x GTX980 - MOBO ASUS Z97 MAXIMUS VII HERO

B: i7-5820K - 16gb DDR4 2x GTX970 - MOBO ASUS X99 ATX DDR4 3000

 

Both options would get an 850 PSU and an H110 Corsair Cooler.

 

I feel that option B is a better, future-proof alternative (albeit slightly more expensive). The reason I'm going with a 970 SLI is mainly a budget reason but the idea would be to start with a single 970 and upgrade to an SLI a few months in, which I'm assuming would anyway out-do a single 980.

 

 

- Am I totally overkilling this - is DCS even this intensive on the CPU/GPU?

- Is the DDR4 RAM actually going to speed this up as vs DDR3?

- Could 32gb RAM help or is 16gb enough.

- A potential SLI on the MAXIMUS VII would only work at x8 x8 rather than x16 x16 as on the x99. Is this a real gainer?

- Finally, is a single 970 sufficient for great FPS on DCS (warthog/mig) with a Ultrawide 1440p with a 5820.

 

Many questions I know :doh: - any help welcome.

Thanks in advance!

-p

[NineLine]

If this is a DCS exclusive machine, both options will probably eat DCS up and spit it out :)

 

I am running the 4790K with a GTX580 and my DCS runs great, I have no delusions though that I will need a card eventually...

 

Why not mix and match... got for the 4790K and 2 GTX980s?

[outlawal2]

- Am I totally overkilling this - is DCS even this intensive on the CPU/GPU?

 

I7 is awesome, but unless you do video editing or something that requires multi thread / multi core you are better served buying the best I5 you can and saving a few dollars

 

- Is the DDR4 RAM actually going to speed this up as vs DDR3?

YES

 

- Could 32gb RAM help or is 16gb enough.

No advantage to 32 GIG unless you plan to use a RAM drive

 

- A potential SLI on the MAXIMUS VII would only work at x8 x8 rather than x16 x16 as on the x99. Is this a real gainer?

Not sure but I don't think current video cards can use all of those lanes in SLI anyway... (NOT SURE ON THAT ONE)

 

- Finally, is a single 970 sufficient for great FPS on DCS (warthog/mig) with a Ultrawide 1440p with a 5820.

Not sure about "GREAT" FPS, but I am running 3440 by 1440 LG with a 770TI and it runs good.. Would not recommend anything LESS than a 770 but the 970 should suffice..

[Prophet]

I think I have seen tests that show even x4 PCIe doesn't show much difference.

 

I'm getting great FPS with a 970 on a 4820K. Considering the whole memory thing though the 970 is not a great choice for SLI.

[pandastick]

thanks for that, quite clear! makes me comfortable that a single 970 can take on that resolution well.

 

So -> I'm tempted to go with option B + a single 970. I like the idea of DDR4 and future-proofing the Mobo/ram investments for a good.... 5 years (ridiculous expectation?! lol )

 

Hopefully the 970 will do just fine by itself on the UW 1440, but I guess the real showdown will come when talking of support for multiple screens such as in Oculus Rift. At 1080 I'm pretty sure it'd handle itself well - at 1440, probably not.

 

I've just read about the memory issue that Prophet is referring to

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/199684-nvidia-slapped-with-class-action-lawsuit-over-gtx-970-memory-issues - Not sure how much of a big deal this really is, but even if it's really losing an 1/8 of RAM, it doesn't make it that bad considering the price tag.

 

Besides, I've just looked at the most comprehensive review of the 780ti vs 970 vs 980 (link below), and it's hard to decide for anything other that the 970. None of them can really pull off 60fps in 4k (or 1440 x2 for that matter - i've read that there's a good chance of a 1440 Oculus Rift), hence it seems as a better bet to start off with a single 970 and when need arises (oculus / 4k / edge), upgrade to an SLI or a new version of GTX. By then, the 970 will hopefully be even cheaper and/or a new version a lot better.

 

great review: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-review

 

Cheers

[Demon_]

I think the socket 2011 is not worth the money for DCS. And the hyper threading is useless for DCS. (outlawal2)

Mine is disable with my SLI config (3240x1920). Overclock to 4.5Ghz is a good move.

 

x8x8 vs x16x16 difference? 2% in Pcie3.

 

Don't spend money for "future proof". Your system will be obsolete in 5+ years anyway.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Demon_

[pandastick]

Thanks Demon.

 

What do you think about DDR4 though? Isn't that a major advantage in terms of potentially taking off load from the GPU's ram when needed?

 

Also, sure the 6 cores will be underused, I've read somewhere that the 5820k is faster than the 4790 without multi-core use as well. Is this not true? - should I only focus on the actual Ghz?

 

Thanks,

P

[Demon_]

DDR4 a major avantage? The only avantage i see is the quad channel... And the price of the socket 2011.

I had 1.6Ghz RAM (dual channel), i have 2.133Ghz (dual channel). 1% improvement with DCS? Maybe 2%... Who knows?

 

The only advantage i see with the 5820K (for DCS) is more L3 cache memory.

A 140w cpu at only 3.3Ghz is much more harder to overclock at 4.5Ghz than a 88w 4.0Ghz or 3.5Ghz (stock).

 

DCS use two cores, one for the sound, one for the rest. That will not change with Edge.

I think the best choice for DCS is the i5 4690K (outlawal2).

 

Someboby can tell me if i'm right or wrong please?

Edited February 27, 2015 by Demon_